Here is a recent article from Yahoo Financial on the 30 Somethings and their specific issues with living in today's world.
"Young and Broke"
http://biz.yahoo.com/special/youngearn06_article1.html
The short version is that they have their own unique issues; just like any other generation has had to deal with.
They are deeper in debt starting out in life than any other generation so far.
They may not do better than their parents financially.
They have been "sold" on mass consumerism and have consumed, and consumed, and consumed....leaving them with huge debts.
Debt has required they delay marriage, families, home purchases etc.
Warning: More gross generalizations ahead.
My personal experience with 4 kids in this generation is that they have higher expectations for immediate gratification than my generation.
My kids and DW's kids want it now and buy it now with no real thought on what it takes to pay for it. Credit is Free! Flash the plastic and get what you want.
One family has already filed for bankruptcy and is again in up to their ears in debt. No amount of talking has made a dent with them. They have to have it now and they deserve it.
The concept of getting a job or a promotion because you are qualified by experience is foreign to them. They should get the job or promotion because they are entitled to it regardless of experience. Education is only one part of getting hired but experience ranks way up their when I hire or promote people.
I will not try to defend my generation on social, civic or environmental issues because every generation so far has been required to use what ever resources are available to turn raw materials into marketable products so they can be sold to create more products and expand the company so more jobs can be created, more taxes paid and communities expanded to support the growing company. There may be a better way to do this but the cost would move the business off shore even faster than our current political environment.
